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“That’s what you said earlier. What time do you have to leave?”
He looked at the clock on the wall above the table. “Ten. I told her I had a business dinner and I’d be late. We’ve got a few more hours. But after this meal, I don’t know how much…”
“Sweetie, we don’t have to do anything, we can watch television, talk or just be quiet.” She knew whatever happened this weekend wasn’t normal. He was excited, but he was also worn out and not from making love, but from the weight of his other life. As much as she hated it, she had feelings for Eric, but not enough to marry him.
After dinner they snuggled on the sofa watching a movie. He looked up at the clock, seven-thirty. He had to start getting ready to go back to his other life. She heard the shower running and felt sad. The end of their time together was always the same, a hot shower for him and a lot of pouting for her. She was starting to hate this arrangement. She missed the old days when they were out in public, taking trips and not confined to this apartment. Maybe she should tell him she had changed her mind and was ready to be Mrs. Eric King.
She stood in the doorway between the bedroom and bathroom, watching him brush his teeth. He looked up and caught her reflection in the mirror. He smiled and she walked over and wrapped her arms around him and he turned to face her. He hated leaving, but he knew if he wanted to keep Kyla in his life, he had to play by her rules. He leaned down to her ear and whispered, “Sing for me again before I leave?”
She smiled and led him back into the bedroom. She turned the music on and pushed him down onto the bed. Early in their relationship, Eric confessed he liked going to strip clubs and took her so she could learn some moves. She became his private dancer along with some of the other fantasies she fulfilled.
She had trained Eric well. After her dance, he made her sing as promised. He dozed off and when he woke up Kyla was still asleep. Eric climbed out of bed and went into the bathroom.
After his shower, he came back and she was still asleep with the sheet barely covering her mocha colored behind, reminding him how much he hated leaving. She rolled over, opened her eyes and smiled.
“Hey, baby. I’m sorry, I wanted to…” She started to get up and he stopped her.
“Don’t. I want to remember you like this.” He brushed the hair away from her shoulder and leaned down to kiss her. This was the hardest kiss of their time together because he couldn’t wrap her up in his arms. He knew if he touched her, her smell would be all over him. He thought about having Olivia wear Kyla’s parfum, but he knew that would be a constant reminder of what he was missing. Instead, they learned to kiss passionately without touching. “Uhm, I better go,” he said reluctantly.
“Bye.” She pulled back, being careful not to touch him. He picked up his jacket and walked down the hall. She wrapped herself up in the sheet waiting to hear the door close. Slam. She got out of bed and started toward the door to catch him in the hall and tell him she’d changed her mind and wanted to marry him, but her phone rang, knocking her back to her senses.
Chapter 22
SEAN PRESCOTT IS A NICE guy, not the words his ex-fiancée would use to describe him. He and Kyla have been work acquaintances for a few years, and every time she comes into the showroom, his spirit tells him to ask her out. However, his mouth has yet to get the memo. His staff has decided to play matchmaker and have deemed Kyla a VIP, meaning only the boss can help her.
Kyla walked in and greeted everyone before taking a turn around the showroom. She found a sofa she liked and sat down, closed her eyes and rested her head on the back. She looked like a princess waiting to be kissed by her prince.
Sean walked over and stood in front of the grey tufted sofa staring at the beautiful
woman he desperately wanted to ask out. He cleared his throat ready to ask the one question he’d been wrestling with for quite a while. He opened his mouth, “I’ve had quite a few people come in and sit on that sofa, but none make it look as exquisite as you do.”
She opened her eyes and smiled. “Hi Sean.”
“Hi Kyla.” He smiled as he extended his hand to help her stand up. “What can I do for you today?”
“Thank you. I have a client that is working my nerves. She keeps changing her mind. I told her if she doesn’t make a decision this week, her guests will be sitting on lawn furniture for Thanksgiving.” They both laughed. He thought to himself, even her laugh is beautiful. She turned and started walking around the sea of furniture.
“Have you thought about dressing the room and letting her live with it a couple of days?”
“I don’t know.”
“We can bring everything over and if she likes it, we invoice you. On spec.”
She turned and met his smile with another of her own. “I know what on spec is.” They laughed. At that moment, he didn’t hear anything else she said. All he knew was he had to muster up his confidence and ask her out. She reached for her iPad and continued. “I hate wasting your time. Send Ryder over and he can…”
“You’re not wasting my time.” He opened his iPad. “Okay, let’s go.” Like a love sick puppy he followed her around the showroom, making note of everything she selected. Two and a half hours later with her order and delivery instructions printed and signed, he cleared his throat and asked, “Maybe once everything is installed we can get coffee?”
She looked at him and politely said, “No. I don’t think that would be appropriate. I don’t date people I work with.”
“But I don’t work with you and it’s not a date. It’s two people celebrating the completion of a well placed furniture installation.”
She laughed. “That’s cute. Tell you what, if my client agrees to buy everything, then we’ll celebrate with coffee.”
“So my having coffee with my favorite client hinges on your client liking my furniture?”
“That’s right.” She picked up her bag and started walking away when he stopped her.
“What if she doesn’t like any of it?”
